Kalumbila housing project gobbles up $80m

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU ABOUT US$80 million has been spent in the last five years to construct close to 1, 200 housing units in North-Western Province by Kalumbila Town Development Corporation (KTDC).

The initial plan for this project is to construct about 10, 000 houses with an aim of reducing the deficit in the area.

According to KTDC town superintendent, Michael Kabungo, inadequate investment particularly in the real estates was among the major challenges faced in Kalumbila, hence the need to embark on the housing project.

“On the housing project, we have spent close to US$80 million in the last four to five years and we are looking for third party investors both in the private and public sector and also individuals,

“We have constructed over 1, 200 houses in the second phase but, we have also done some commercial infrastructure and an industry park which is still under construction. In the initial plan we intend to contract 10, 000 units,” Mr. Kabungo said.

In an interview recently, Mr. Kabungo explained that accommodation in the area remained a challenge as over 200 staff are sharing space and another 800 living in camps.

Mr. Kabungo said in ensuring enough accommodation, KTDC had entered into a partnership with the Workers Compensation Fund Control Fund Board (WCFCB) to construct 50 housing units in Kalumbila.

He observed that creating synergies with the private and public sector would assist in the realisation of better infrastructure which was a catalyst in the provision of social and economic amenities for the people.

Mr Kabungo said organisations such as First Quantum Mines had equally invested in water, road infrastructure, sewerage system and electricity.

He had since called on the private sector to come on board and invest in the real estate sector.

“There is need for investment into this area and it is for this reason that WCFCB has invested in housing units. We just finished contracting 50 houses which are fully rented and they were delivered in a period of eight months,” Mr. Kabungo said.